What an incredible trip to Spain for 40 of our Year 8 and 9 students from The Dorcan Academy!

We were lucky enough to stay in the stunning resort of Calella, where students enjoyed the sunshine, the beach and even some volleyball by the sea! It was the perfect base for an unforgettable adventure.

Our days in Barcelona were packed with amazing experiences  from visiting the famous football stadium and the Olympic Stadium to exploring Montjuïc, Poble Espanyol and the breathtaking beauty of La Sagrada Família. Students also enjoyed some shopping time at Arenas de Barcelona (the former bullring turned shopping centre!) and of course plenty of delicious helados along the way.

We also travelled to Figueres, the town where Salvador Dalí was born, to visit the fascinating Dalí Museum and to the charming town of Girona – another real highlight of the trip for many.

Throughout the visit, Mrs Easton, Mrs Burnett, Ms Murphy and Mr Pettyfoot were incredibly impressed by our students. Their excellent behaviour, enthusiasm and the way they demonstrated Dorcan values every single day made us all so proud.

They were fantastic ambassadors for our school and this trip created memories that will last a lifetime. Well done everyone!

We are so proud of our student, George in Year 11 who was chosen by North Wiltshire Youth Football League to referee two Cup final matches at Swindon Town Foundation Park. He was chosen on merit for reports sent in throughout the season from league games for professionalism and hard work. George works hard at weekends, volunteering as a coach as well as studying for his exams. He demonstrates our Dorcan virtues in spades. Congratulations George!

We are very proud of our year 10 students who took part in the Young Enterprise programme, where they created a business, a product (beautiful bracelets) and pitched their ideas to a panel of judges. They won an award for creativity and innovation of their amazing product.

A huge well done and thank you to the Year 10 and 11 sports leaders who have given their time generously to help with two primary schools netball festivals. The girls showed excellent integrity and personal responsibility working together in different roles to ensure that the primary school students enjoyed their netball and could compete against other schools in a fun and safe environment. The staff from the schools spoke highly of the girls and the way in which they conducted themselves and the way that they interacted with the students. Fantastic leadership girls!

On 12th February 2026, staff at The Dorcan Academy completed specialist Catastrophic Bleed Control Training. This essential session equipped our team with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively in a medical emergency, including how to use a bleed control kit.

We are committed to keeping our community as safe as possible, and this training is part of our wider approach to emergency readiness. Additional student workshops and staff training sessions are planned for next term to further strengthen this provision.

To support families, we’re pleased to share a Family Workshop offered by the Owen’s World Foundation, designed for parents and carers who want to learn more about bleed control and emergency first aid:

Family Workshop – 16th February

You’ll also see information, posters, and resources displayed around the school to promote awareness and confidence in responding to emergencies.

Together, we continue to build a safer, informed, and empowered school community. 

On Monday 9th February, our Year 9 students took part in The Blunt Truth workshop an engaging and important session focused on raising awareness around knife crime, understanding the risks, and learning how to keep themselves and others safe.

Students explored: 

• How to respond in an emergency
• The steps to take to protect themselves
• How and when to report any concerns

This was an educational and impactful workshop that our Year 9 cohort really valued.

We have attached follow‑up information for parents and carers, including practical advice, helpful websites, and support links. You’ll also find details on how young people can report concerns anonymously via Fearless.

Together, we continue to empower our students to make safe, informed choices.

Huge congratulations to the year 8 netball team who were crowned Swindon Schools netball champions. They faced Lydiard Park Academy in the final emerging as strong winners 22-9. The girls have shown excellent commitment to netball. They attended club highly and their commitment and motivation during the game was always to their best. Not only has this shown in their achievements in schools but many of the team committing to outside clubs. They are worthy winners having missed out on the winners sport last year by 1 goal. A huge well done.

Our Year 10 students had a fantastic time at Appren‑T‑Fest 2026, hosted by New College Swindon.

The event began with an inspiring introductory talk from current local apprentices, who shared their personal journeys and insights into apprenticeship pathways.

Students then explored the venue and met a wide range of apprenticeship providers from across Swindon and Wiltshire, gaining valuable information about future career options and opportunities.

A brilliant and informative experience for all involved.

Following Logan’s brilliant performance, we are delighted to share another wonderful success story from the recent Taekwondo competition in Belgium.

Jasmine also travelled to Belgium with the Global Taekwondo International (GTI) team, demonstrating remarkable dedication, courage, and hard work throughout the event. The team performed exceptionally well, bringing home several medals.

We are incredibly proud to announce that Jasmine returned with two bronze medals — one in patterns and one in sparring. This is an outstanding achievement and a well‑deserved reward for her commitment to her sport.

A huge well done to Jasmine and the entire GTI team on their impressive results!

We are delighted to share some fantastic news about one of our students, Logan, who recently competed in the Flanders Field Open Taekwondo Competition in Belgium.

Logan was granted time away from school to take part in this prestigious international event, which welcomed nearly 800 competitors from countries around the world. We are incredibly proud to share that the team achieved great success—bringing home a number of medals—with Logan winning a bronze medal in sparring.

This was Logan’s biggest competition to date, and his achievement is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication he puts into qualifying for and representing the Global Taekwondo International squad. Bringing home a medal is a wonderful reward for his commitment and effort.

A huge well done to Logan and the whole team on their impressive performance!